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So I've been back to work for a week now, Sophie's in day care (today is her first day, she stayed home with daddy last week) so I'm pumping while at work.
I've never had any production problems but lately when I pump it seems like my milk isn't letting down and all I'm getting is what is "stored around the ducts", I pump for 10 minutes then milk stops coming out. I KNOW they're not empty, my breasts have never been empty before and if I manually express I can still get milk, I just cant seem to get to it with the pump. My first pump today only yielded about 3oz, my second about 4oz. I really need to try and get more out or else I'm not going to be able to pump enough to feed her during the day and will have to start supplementing with formula.
I've started back with the oatmeal and Mother's Milk tea, but I really don't think its a production problem. I've tried the tricks to stimulate let down, like looking at pictures and videos of her while pumping, but it doesn't seem to be working. I've also massaged them while pumping and that helps a bit, but only a little.
Any other suggestions? I can't really pump more frequently, as it is I'm already doing it 3x a day, any more will interfere with my ability to do my job.
Appreciate any suggestions!
I've never had any production problems but lately when I pump it seems like my milk isn't letting down and all I'm getting is what is "stored around the ducts", I pump for 10 minutes then milk stops coming out. I KNOW they're not empty, my breasts have never been empty before and if I manually express I can still get milk, I just cant seem to get to it with the pump. My first pump today only yielded about 3oz, my second about 4oz. I really need to try and get more out or else I'm not going to be able to pump enough to feed her during the day and will have to start supplementing with formula.
I've started back with the oatmeal and Mother's Milk tea, but I really don't think its a production problem. I've tried the tricks to stimulate let down, like looking at pictures and videos of her while pumping, but it doesn't seem to be working. I've also massaged them while pumping and that helps a bit, but only a little.
Any other suggestions? I can't really pump more frequently, as it is I'm already doing it 3x a day, any more will interfere with my ability to do my job.
Appreciate any suggestions!
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Re: Let down
09/21have you tried looking at a picture of Sophie while you are pumping? Or have bringing one of her receiving blankets to smell or touch while thinking about her.
If you have a tech savvy significant other have them help you make a few .wav files of Sophie sleeping or gurgling or nursing noises and put them on a cd you can listen to or can add to your mp3 player. I know that pumping doesn't feel the same as nursing but the blanket and mp3's got me through 10 months of pumping at work.
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Re: Let down
09/21Also make sure you have a super good pump. I was using an old version of the pump in style I had from my first two kids but the motors do burn out. When I got the new pump in style, it worked like a charm. I could get 7-10 ounces when I switched to the new pump. -
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Re: Let down
09/21I bring my iPhone to the office when I pump and watch video and look at pics of her. I DO get all warm and fuzzy but no let down. I haven't tried a blanket yet. Maybe I'll bring her jammies tomorrow.
Oh, and I have a brand new double Medela Pump in Style (started using it in June) -
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Re: Let down
09/25I had to have my daughter's little hat around, also just closing your eyes and visualizing floods of milk and all the other motherly nursey stuff worked for me. I couldn't even be reading, I HAD to concentrate. It was like peeing in public or something, it just wasn't happening until I really focused. My hubby would try to talk to me and I'd tell him, "stop,I have to be thinking milky thoughts, buzz off."
good luck....
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